The midfielder had signed on a non-contract basis, which was later cancelled, but Wilcox remained keen to watch him play.

He said: “It’s the rules and regulations that are quite confusing. If he’d had stayed with us on a non-contract basis and we’d not have offered him a contract he wouldn’t be able to sign for any other club apart from Conference North or South until January.

“We had to deregister him and then get him back on board. He can play in reserve games, but not in first team games unless we decide to give him a contract.

“It’s a little bit confusing and I hope that has cleared things up for supporters, but that’s where we are at the moment.”

Featherstone has still been training at the club in an attempt to secure a contract and it is clearly an option that has been considered by Wilcox.

Wilcox said: “He’s been training with us and it’s just the ruling that is put in place for various reasons, but we’ve overcome that and he’s just got to prove that he’s worth a deal."